Pasteurizing system



June 8, 1943. R OLSON 2,321,235

PASTEURIZING SYSTEMS Filed March 7, 1941 INVENTOR RAYMOND E. OLSON Y ATTORNEY.

suitable water-circulating pump M.

circulating pipe l5.

Patented June 8, ,1943

UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE PASTEURIZIN G SYSTEM liaymond E. Olson, Pittsford, N. Y., asslgnor to Taylor Instrument Companies, Rochester, N. Y.,

a corporation of New York Application March 7, 1941, Serial No. 382,137

4 Claims. (01. 23618) pipe 20. This valve is actuated by a fluid-filled thermosensitive tube system comprising a bulb 23 projecting into the circulating water, and a pressure responsive;unit (not shown), but enclosed in the motor top of the valve 22. In order to ensure that the temperature of the milk will be uniform at all points in the receptacle, there projects therein an agitator 26, the shaft 21 of whichtis driven by an electric motor 29.

In the present pasteurizing system, the heat ing water is circulated only during those intersures that the milk will be heated for the re quired period, while the heating will be discontinued at the end of the given period, and yet the. parts of the system are so arranged that an attendant cannot fail to operate the system in the proper manner.

The various features and advantages of the invention will appear from the detailed description and claims when taken with the drawing which is, in part, a perspective view of a spray vat past-eurizer with portions thereof broken away for clearness in disclosure and, in part, a diagrammatic showing of the remainder of the that the water discharged from these pipes flows in films down the walls of the receptacle and accumulates in the bottom of -the jacket H from which it is withdrawn through a pipe I3 by a This circulating pump l4 returns the water through the main discharge conduit and branch conduits Hi to the spray pipes i2.

The water-circulating pump I4 is preferably driven by a constant speed electric motor I! so that the volume of the water being circulated is to impart a required or pasteurizin g temperature to the milk. For this purpose, steam is supplied through the normally open solenoid valve I9, steam pipe and the injector 2|, into the water A temperature regulating valve 22 controls the flow of steam through. the

vals of the holding period when the temperature of the mi1k is below the pasteurizing temperature. As disclosed in the mentioned Fielder patent, thermosensitive switching means controls the operationof the motor l'lwhich, in turn, drives the circulating pump M. This thermosensitive switching means includes a fluid-filled tube system comprising a bulb communicating through a capillary tube 31 with a hollow Bourdon spring 32. The Bourdon spring in responding to the rise or fall in temperature at the bulb 30, actuates a recording pen 34 which records this temperature on a chart 35, driven by a suitable clock motor (not shown).

The Bourdon spring 32 also actuates anelectrical switching device 36 of the so-called snap action type. The construction of the recorder and the means for actuating the switching contactors 4G and 5! of the electrical switching device may be similar to that disclosed in the patent to Widmer No. 2,111,690, granted March 22, 1938.

In accordance with the present invention, timing and indicating means are provided for indicating when the pasteurizing period has been completed. The indicating means includes a signal, such as a horn H so arranged that the attendant in stopping the operation of the horn must reset the system in condition for the next cycle of operation.

In the operation of the system it will be understood that a batch of milk to be pasteurized is introduced into the receptacle II). The power switch PS- in the main power leads and the manual switch in the power leads 42 and 45 are closed and an additional manual switch is also closed. on the closing of the manual switch PS and 80, a circuit is completed through conductors 42 and 43, agitator motor 29, conductor 44, to the other side of the power supply 45. Also with this manual switch closed, a circuit is completed for the circulating motor .11. This circuit includes the power conductor 42, eontactor 46 of thesnap action type switch 36, and normally closed contact-H, conductor 48. winding of the motor ll, conductor 48, lower blade of manual switch 4|, contact 53 and contactor ii to the other side 45 of the power source. Thus the motor II will drive the circulating pump l4 so that the water will be continuously sprayed against both sides of the receptacle l and at the same time the agitator motor 29 will drive the agitator 26 to stir up the in the receptacle reaches the prescribed pasteurizing temperature, for example, 145 R, at which time contactors 46 and 5! of the snap-acting switch 36 will disengage their respective contacts 41 and 50, but the contactor 46 snaps into engagement with the contact 52. It will be recalled that the snap-action switch 36 is tripped by the unwinding of the Bourdon spring 32, due to expansion of the thermosensitive fluid in the bulb 30 when the milk reaches the pasteurizing temperature. It will be noted that the circuit for the circulating motor I! is now interrupted at the contact 50 so that the water ceases to circulate. However, if the temperature of the milk drops below 145 F. during the holding interval, the contactors 46 and 5| will snap into engagement respectively with the contacts 41 and 50. The engagement of the contactor 5| milk. These operations continue until the milk with the contact 5|! completes a circuit for the circulating motor II, which motor will continue to circulate the water until the milk again reaches the pasteurizing temperature. It will be understood that the motor |'l may stop and start several times during the pasteurizing period.

As soon as the milk or other liquid in the receptacle i0 reaches the pasteurizing temperature, it is desirable to start measuring the holding interval. In the present arrangement it is assumed that the milk will be held in the receptacle l0 for an interval of thirty and one-half minutes. In order to measure this interval there is provided a timing device T, including a third motor 55, the shaft of which drives a cam 56 to actuate the switching contacts 51 and F-l. The

timing device has a definite normal position as shown, to which position it rotates and comes to a stop at'the conclusion of each time cycle. As soon as the milk in the receptacle reaches the pasteurizing temperature, the contactor 43 snaps into engagement with the contactor 52 as previously mentioned. This closes a circuit from con- 'ductor 42, contactor 43, contact '52, conductor 59, winding of the motor 55, conductors and 45 to the .other side of the alternating current source. On completion of the mentioned circuit, the motor 55 rotates the cam 56, but when this cam rotates from the normal position shown, it closes the contacts of switch I8. The closure of these contacts completes a substitute circuit :ior the timer motor which circuit is independent of the control of the contactor 4i and contact 52 of the snap-acting switch. This substitute circuit for the timing motor extends from the power lead 42; conductor II, switch contacts 58, conductor Sla, winding of the motor 55, conductors I0 and 45, to theother side of the current source. Thus the timing device continues to rotate until the pasteurizing period, namely, thirty-and-onehall minutes, has been measured. At the conclusion of this period, the follower 63 engages the rise on the high point Iila on the cam to close the switch contacts 51. on the closure of these contacts, a circuit is completed for the horn H orother indicating device, as well as ductors 42 and 13, upper blade of manual switch 4|, winding of horn H. conductors 13a, switch contacts l1, conductors 84 and 45, to the other side of the current source. It will be noted that the solenoid valves l3 and 10 are connected in multiple with the winding of the horn in the last described circuit. The operation of the normally closed solenoid valve III introduces cooling water through the pipe ll into the water-circulating system, while the operation of the normally open solenoid valve l9 stops the flow of steam through pipe 20. When the horn starts to sound, the attendant is thereby advised that the pasteuriz ing period has been completed so that he will open the manual switch 4|. The opening of this switch interrupts the multiple circuit of horn winding together with solenoid valves l9 and It, as well as the circuit of the circulating motor H.

The interruption of this circuit causes the solenoid valve 10 to close the cold water supply pipe II and causes the solenoid valve I! to open the steam supply pipe 20, as well as causes the motor I! to stop the operation of the pump so that no more heat will be introduced into the milk in the receptacle In. It will be appreciated that the manual switch 4| must again be closed before another batch of milk can be pasteurized. The timing device T- is so arranged that, in addition to the thirty and one-half minute pasteurizing interval it will measure a second interval, for example, five minutes, in which the receptacle Hi can be rinsed or sterilized in readiness for a succeeding batch of milk. The switch contacts 58 of the timing device ensure that the cam 58 will rotate to the normal position illustrated in Fig. 1, in which position the cam follower 55 drops into the low dwell 65 of the cam to open the switch contacts 58.

As herein illustrated, an additional circuit closed by the switches PS and 12 enables the pump motor I] to be operated under manual control independently of the automatic thermosen- -sitive switching means.

I claim:

1. In a pasteurizing arrangement, a vat for holding a liquid to be pasteurized, means including a pump for recirculating a heating medium in heat exchange relation to said liquid for heating the same, an electric motor for operating said recirculating pump, a thermosensitive switching device responsive to a predetermined temperature of said liquid, a circuit for said motor completed through said switching device only when said liquid is below said predetermined 2. In a pasteurizing arrangement, a vat for holding a liquid to be pasteurized, means including a pump for recirculating a heating medium in heat exchang relation to said liquid for heating the same, an electric motor for operating said recirculating pump, a thermosensitive switch responsive to a predetermined temperature of said liquid, a circuit for said motor completed through said switch only when said liquid is below said predetermined temperature, a timing device inv cluding a second motor for measuring a predetermined time interval, an initial circuit for said timing motor completed by said switch when. said liquid reaches said predetermined temperature, a substitute circuit for said timing motor completed by said timing device when said initial circult is completed to put the timing device in operation, signalling means indicating the completion of said time interval, a circuit for said signalling means completed by said timing device at the conclusion of the time interval, and a manual switch controlling said last-mentioned circuit as well as the circuit of said circulating motor. l

3. In a pasteurizing arrangement, a vat for holding a liquid to be pasteurized, means including a pump for recirculating a liquid heating medium in heat exchange relation to said liquid ,for

heating it, an electric motor for operating said recirculating pump, a thermosensitive switch responsive to'a predetermined temperature of said liquid, said switch having normally closed and normally open contacts, a circuit for said motor completed through said normally closed contacts, a timing device including a second motor for off-normal contacts, signalling means indicating the completion of said time interval, a circuit for said signalling means completed by said timing device at the conclusion of the interval, and a manual switch controlling said last-mentioned circuit as well as the .circuit of said circulating motor.

4. In a pasteurizing arrangement, a vat for holding a liquid to be pasteurized; means includ-' said normally closed contacts, a timing device measuring a predetermined time interval, said timing device having a normal position and ineluding ofi-normal contacts closed when said device is away from its normal position, an initial circuit for said timing motor completed through said normally open contacts, a substitute circuit for said timing motor completed through said including a second motor for measuring a predetermined time interval, said timing device having a. normal position and including oil-normal contacts closed when saiddevice is away from its normal position, an initial circuit for said timing motor completed .through said normally open contacts, a substitute circuit for said timing motor completed through said off-normal contacts,

signalling means indicating thescompletion of said time interval, a circuit=tor said signalling means completed by said timing device at the conclusion of the interval, and a manual switch controlling said last-mentioned circuit as well as the circuit of said circulating motor.

' RAYMOND E OLSON. 

